Fortune favours the brave

The UK stock market has not been a comfortable place for investors or their managers in recent times. For the managers of Rensburg's UK Focus Trust the 4th quarter of 2007 was a testing experience as both small and mid-cap stocks came off badly in the volatile markets. Since then however, there has been a marked turnaround in both of these aspects of the portfolio as sound stock selection has won through.

The fund has returned -2.35% compared to the average for the IMA UK All Companies sector of -11.29% YTD. (Source: Morningstar 1st July 2008) It is ranked 11th out of 324 funds in the sector.

The UK Managers' Focus Trust brings together the talents of Rensburg Fund Management's award-winning UK equity fund managers: Colin Morton, Mark Hall, Paul Spencer and Stuart Sharp. Each manager is allocated 25% of the new money coming into the fund to invest in their respective sectors. The fund contains a maximum of 50 stocks reflecting the entire UK market. This translates into: a maximum of 10 blue chips, 10 mid caps, 20 smaller companies and 10 from any part of the market.

Alex Brotherston, Joint Chief Executive of Rensburg Fund Management Limited said: 'This fund harnesses the skills of each member of the UK fund management team. It combines the best of their stock selections in a single portfolio, giving investors the opportunity to benefit from large, mid or small cap upturns, whilst providing some protection against the onset of weakness in specific market segments.

No manager can control the impact of market turbulence on their portfolios. But given the team's distinctive edge on its peers, investors understandably find this fund very attractive. These are highly capable fund managers whose competence has been proven time and time again.'

Colin Morton, Investment Director said: ‘This is not a fund for everyone because the portfolio is concentrated. It currently has 45 holdings. It's a fund of our ‘best ideas' and as such represents our brand of stock selection and management. Individually, we're fiercely competitive and take tremendous pride in getting it right. If there was ever a fund where investors' and managers' interests were aligned, it's this one.'

The fund objective is to achieve a total return in excess of that of the FTSE All Share Index, although it is not benchmark constrained; also no stock or sector restrictions are applied. Asset allocation occurs at the individual portfolio level.